6th ICC Qualifies Match prediction

Two-time World Champions the West Indies, despite the poor run of form that landed them at the qualifier, remain the strongest team at the competition by some distance, especially given the return of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. Anything less than the top-spot will be a disappointment, but the Windies are far from nailed-on to make it out of the tournament. Two calamitous showings with the bat in the warm-ups, bowled out for 110 and 115 by Afghanistan and the UAE, suggest they have yet to adapt to the conditions. The intensity of the rushed schedule typical of an Associate tournament may also come as something of a shock to a side more used to more leisurely paced ICC global events, with little time to recover physically or psychologically from any set-backs. Added to the pressure of expectation, the Windies will know that theirs is the scalp every team wants to take home, and they will be going through the tournament with a target on their back.

Their first opponents the UAE face a similar situation, barely scraping through World Cricket League Divison 2 to reach the tournament. Nonetheless the Emiratis are an improving side, the relaxing of ICC eligibility criteria assisting in their rebuilding efforts after the tough couple of years that followed the retirement of iconic captain Khurram Khan. Among a handful of new faces that bring First Class experience to the side, legspinner Imran Haider has made an immediate impact since debuting just over a year ago, whilst the long-serving Shaiman Anwar’s return to form will doubtless boost the UAE’s confidence.